VA to Amps Calculator

Q: How many amps is 1,000 VA?

At 120 V: 8.33 A. At 230 V: 4.35 A. At 240 V: 4.17 A.

Q: How many amps does a 1,500 VA UPS draw?

At full rated output, 1,500 VA ÷ 120 V = 12.5 A on a US supply, or 1,500 ÷ 230 = 6.52 A on a 230 V supply. Input current is slightly higher because of the UPS's own losses and battery charging.

Q: Do I need the power factor to convert VA to amps?

No. Volt-amps are already voltage × current, so dividing by voltage gives the current directly. Power factor is only needed to convert between VA and watts.

Q: How do I convert VA to amps for three-phase?

Divide by the line-to-line voltage times √3. For 10,000 VA at 480 V: 10,000 ÷ (480 × 1.732) = 12.03 A per line.

Q: Why does the same VA give different amps?

Because current is inversely proportional to voltage. Doubling the voltage halves the current for the same apparent power, which is why large appliances and industrial equipment use 240 V or three-phase supplies.

Convert volt-amps (VA) to amps for single-phase and three-phase circuits. Divide VA by the voltage, or by voltage × √3 for three-phase.

PHASE TYPE

🔋 APPARENT POWER

🔌 VOLTAGE

CURRENT

15 A

MILLIAMPS

15,000 mA

FORMULA

I = VA / V

💡 How to Convert VA to Amps

To convert VA to amps on a single-phase circuit, divide the volt-amps by the voltage. On a three-phase circuit, divide by the line-to-line voltage multiplied by √3 (about 1.732). Because VA already includes both real and reactive power, you do not need the power factor: the current depends on apparent power.

VA to amps formulas

Single-phase: I = VA ÷ V
Three-phase: I = VA ÷ (V_L-L × √3)

Where I = current in amps, V = voltage in volts, V_L-L = line-to-line voltage, √3 ≈ 1.732

Worked examples

US household circuit: 1,800 VA ÷ 120 V = 15 A, the full capacity of a 15 A circuit.
UPS on a 230 V supply: 1,500 VA ÷ 230 V = 6.52 A.
Three-phase transformer: 30,000 VA ÷ (400 V × 1.732) = 43.3 A per line.

VA to amps table

Current in amps for common single-phase and three-phase voltages.

VA	120 V	230 V	240 V	208 V 3φ	400 V 3φ	480 V 3φ
500	4.17	2.17	2.08	1.39	0.72	0.6
1,000	8.33	4.35	4.17	2.78	1.44	1.2
1,500	12.5	6.52	6.25	4.16	2.17	1.8
1,800	15	7.83	7.5	5	2.6	2.17
2,400	20	10.43	10	6.66	3.46	2.89
3,000	25	13.04	12.5	8.33	4.33	3.61
5,000	41.67	21.74	20.83	13.88	7.22	6.01
10,000	83.33	43.48	41.67	27.76	14.43	12.03
25,000	208.33	108.7	104.17	69.39	36.08	30.07
50,000	416.67	217.39	208.33	138.79	72.17	60.14

Using the result to size wiring and breakers

The current you calculate is the load current. In the US, the National Electrical Code (NEC) requires circuits feeding continuous loads (running three hours or more) to be rated at 125% of that current, which is the same as loading a breaker to no more than 80%. For example, a 1,800 VA continuous load at 120 V draws 15 A, so it needs a 20 A circuit. Always follow your local electrical code.

Common mistakes

Using phase-to-neutral voltage with √3. In a 400/230 V system, use 400 V with the three-phase formula, or 230 V with the single-phase formula per phase, never 230 V × √3.
Multiplying by power factor. PF converts VA to watts. It is not needed to go from VA to amps.

Related conversions: amps to VA · kVA to amps · VA to kW

Single-phase: amps = VA ÷ volts. Three-phase: amps = VA ÷ (volts × 1.732). 1,800 VA at 120 V = 15 A.